Shoulder-support for personal wear.



F. W. ERSFELD.

SHOULDER SUPPORT FOR PERSONAL WEAR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.23, 1914.

1,1 12,201 Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

Wessex IHE NORRIS PETERS $0., PHOTO-LITHO4 WASHINGTON, n It,

FREDERICK W. ERSFE LD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SHOULDER-SUPPORT FOR PERSONAL WEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

Application filed March 23, 1914. Serial No. 826,485.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. ERS- FELD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Bronx, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoulder-Supports for Personal Wear, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to afford comfortable but nevertheless effective means whereby the shoulders of the wearer may be trained and sustained yieldably to assuming the square upright carriage which is so conducive to health and symmetrical appearance;in other Words to counteract and overcome the tendency to droop, or the forward inclination so prevalent with a majority of individuals lacking in physical training and exercise. Furthermore as a corollary the object is to increase the lung power or breathing capacity of the user by expanding the chest and insuring an uprlght posture and bearing of the body generally, it being well known that when the shoulders are habitually thrown back squarely the tendency is to straighten and improve the appearance and health of the whole physlcal structure.

The invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, and 2, are front and rear views of the upper portion of a person wearing my shoulder supports; Fig. 3, a view of the supports and suspender straps, unattached; Flg. 4, a detail view of the under side of one of the cushion pockets; Fig. upon line 5-5 Fig. 4:; Fig. 6, a longitudinal section of one of the bulbous cushions.

In carrying out my invention and discovery practically I have heretofore found bulbous rubber cushions of ovoidal shape the most desirable form of elastic resilient arm pit cushion, since they may be made of light weight, and are delicate and sensltlve to pressure, while affording the requisite degree of resistant tendency to the lowerm or drooping. of the shoulders. The bulbous cushions are preferable in many respects in that they may be made of any size, shape, and strength of resilient power with a minimum of weight. They are furthermore non-absorbent and cool, and practically indestructible for the purpose desig- 5, a cross section nated, and may be manufactured cheaply to meet the requirements of all possible users.

The cushions a, when made of rubber or slmllar elastic material preferably have one or more vent holes a, to admit of the displacement and reentrance of air as the bulb or cushion is compressed and then released, in whole or in part,the air when confined or sealed within the bulb having a tendency to stiffen the cushion more than is desirable for the ordinary use of delicate or young persons, whereas when the air is allowed to the cushion it makes the cushion more delicate and quickly responsive to both increased and relaxed pressure.

In order to cushions a, in of the wearer,

sustain my elastic resilient position under the shoulders and within the arm pits, I attach them to any suitable form of flexible suspenders B, as may be found most expedient, those shown in the drawings having been found effective in use, but being capable of change or modification as may be found most expedient in adapting the device to the varying requirements of use on persons of different age, size or sex. Hence I do not confine myself necessarily to the identical form and arrangement of straps and suspenders shown, in which 7), may be designated as the cushion belt carrying the elastic resilient cushions a, a, and b, b, as the shoulder straps for sustaining the cushion belt 6, in position. The cushion belt I), is provided with a buckle c, or other well known means for adjustably securing its ends together; and the front portions of the shoulder straps I), b, are formed with adjustable loops b", 5*, having sliding buckles 0, 0, like unto those for instance used on suspenders for under garments.

A convenient means of sustaining the elastic resilient cushions a, a, in position is to confine them within pockets 7), 39, secured to the cushion belt 6, and provided with closure means 19, such as glove button fastenings or any other button or equivalent form of fastening that will admit of the insertion or removal of the cushions for purpose of cleaning, &c.

Furthermore, the device is simple and cheap as well as eflicient, and can by no possibility result in injury to the wearer.

In the case of persons with shoulders of unequal height the cushions are made of difierent sizes to remedy the defect; and When a cure is effected, the use of the cushions may of course be discontinued.

hat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. As an improved article of manufacture for personal Wear, a shoulder-sustaining de- Vice comprising inflatable bulbous elastic cushions, avbelt to which said cushions are secured and shoulder straps connected with said belt at the back and having loops slidably engaging said belt at the front.

2. As an improved article of manufacture for personal Wear, a shoulder-sustaining device comprising inflatable bulbous elastic cushions, a belt having pockets in which Gno. V11. MIATT, DOROTHY Mm'r'r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

